Hand-rest for penmen



G. S. H EIL'JNBOLT.` HAND REST PoR PBNMEN.

Patented Jan.' 31, 1,893.

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GEORGE S. HELENBOLT, OE MEDINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALI` TO EDGAR KNAPP, OF MIDDLEPORT, NEW YORK.

HAND-REST vFOR PENlVl-EN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 490,906, dated January 31, 1893.

Application iiled October 17, 1892. Serial No. 4491112- (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE S. HELENBOLT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Rests for Penmen, of which the following is a specification.

Beginners learning to write are liable to allow the hand to roll over in the direction of its movement and thereby acquire the habit of a careless position of the hand in writing. To prevent such habit and to give an easy and correct position of the hand while writing, I have produced a device for holding and guiding the hand in proper position and for supporting the pen-holder in the proper position in the hand while writing.

The particular matter of novelty in such device consists of a construction whereby it is adapted to be clasped across the palm of the hand and to rest upon the paper at the end which projects from the side of the fourth finger; while the end which projects from the side of the thumb is provided with an eyed-bracket which serves to receive and keep the pen-holder at the proper angle in the hand in writing.

In the accompanying drawings,l have sho wn such device in Fig. 1 as it is applied to the hand in writing; Fig. 2 shows the device.

The device I make in the form of an open clasp adapted to fit across the palm of the hand and to be held thereon at the back without cramping it. I make the clasp preferably of two parts of thin metal 1 and 2 connected at their straight ends by iat eyes so that they lap each other with a sliding relation to make the clasp of a size to suit the width of the hand. Each straight lapping part is formed with an arm 3 and 4 standing toward each other over the connected ends and suitably curved so as to fit over and upon the back of the hand and form an open clasp. A screw 5 is provided in the lapped parts to clamp them together when set to t the clasp-ends to the hand. At the thumb side of the hand the curved end 4 has a bracket 6 which terminates in an eye 7 at one end and has a slot S in its other end by which it is pivotally and adj ustably connected to said curved end. Its eyed-end. serves to receive and to hold that end of the handle of the pen-holder Which extends back of the thumb; while the adjustable connection permits the setting of the bracket to hold .its eye in position to support the pen-holder at the'proper angle.

That end of the device which rests upon the paper may be suitably formed or curved topermit it to slide freely on the paper, so that in writing, this end of the clasp will form a guide 9 which will act as a prop to prevent the hand from turningy over in writing and will thereby keep it in the correct position for learning easy and symmetrical writing but of course the device can be used by an expert penman as well to prevent the rolling of the hand.

The intention of the eyed-bracket is to hold the pen-holder at an angle that will keep it about opposite the knuckle of the forefinger and prevent it from being changed in position while writing. It will be understood that the eyed-bracket may be dispensed with as the clasp device, in its function of preventing the hand from turning over in writing, will be found effective in correcting carelessness in pupils in learning to write.

The adaptation of the device for use across the palm of the hand leaves the fingers free for easy movement with the pen; while the retaining of the pen-holder or handle at a point back of the thumb, gives the important advantage of maintaining the pen always at the same angle in writing.

The device may be made of thin plates or strap metal so long as it is sufficiently rigid across the hand to form a stiff prop or rest at the point which slides upon the paper. Its

use will prevent the hand from becoming tired and by it both the hand and the pen are held in the perfect position in writing.

It will be observed that the eyed-bracket' as being pivoted and adjustable, but it is obvious that the ring may be a fixed part of the curved end of the clasp.

It will be observed that the correct position in writing is to have the arm rest upon the` last two fingers of the hand and the muscular part of the arm below the elbow with the wrist especially elevated from the desk. As will be seen my device aids in retaining the arm and hand in this position since it is adapted to clasp the palm of the hand, whereas a finger-clasp would not restrain the tendency of the wrist to fall upon the desk.

I claim as my improvement:

1. In a hand-rest for penmen, the combina-- tion of extensible rigid parts adapted to exnbrace the palm and partly the back of the hand in front of the thumb, with a ring onl the curved part next the fore-finger for re-vv taining the pen-holder in position, and a clamp Y for said extensible parts, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a hand-rest for pen-v men of extensible rigid parts adapted to ein-f brace the palm and partly the back of the., hand in front of the thumb, anda clamp for,3 said extensible parts, with a ring pivotally` and adjustably connected tothe curved part next the fore-finger for retaining the penholder, and a rest or prop projecting from thel base of the curved part next the little finger,- substantially as described.

3. A hand-rest .for penmen consisting of rigid extensible parts adapted to embrace the palm and partly the back of the hand in front of the thumb, a clamp for said extensible parts, a ring standing out from the curved part next the fore-finger, for retaining the pen-holder in position above the thumb, and a rest or prop standing out from the curved part next the little linger, substantially as described.

4L. `A hand-rest for penmen consisting of two separate rigid strap parts lapped upon each other and connected by a loop on the end of each lapping part, a clamp-screw in one of said lapping parts, the outer ends of each part terminating in a return curved end or arm adapted to fit over the back of the hand, a prop or rest projecting from the return end next the little linger, a ring having a slotted arm, and a clamp-screw for adjustably securing the'latter to the return end part next the fore-finger, substantially as described.

5. A hand-rest for penmen consisting of two separate rigid strap parts, l and2, one end ofV eachhavinga loop engaging the other part in lapping relation, the under lapping part having a clamp screw 5, and at its other end formed with a return arm or end 3, and a prop or rest 9 at the basethereof, and in line with the lapped parts, the upper lapping partv having a return curved end orl armfl, the said return parts adapted to fit partly over. the back of the hand and set and. clampedthereto, as shown Vand described.

In testimony whereof l ,have hereunto signed this 5specification in the presence of witnesses.

GEORGE S. I-IELENBOLT. Witnesses:

GEO. D. JUDsoN, PETER WEBBER. 

